If you thoughtWoody Allen’s casting ofMiley Cyrusinhis Amazon serieswas unexpected, wait till you get a load of this.Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon, a half-hour comedy from the U.K.’s Sky TV network about a road tripMarlon Brando,Michael Jackson, andElizabeth Taylorallegedly made after 9/11, has found its Michael:Joseph Fiennes, as inShakespeare in LoveJoseph Fiennes.
A Sky spokesperson released a statement toVarietysaying in part, “Sky Arts gives producers the creative freedom to cast roles as they wish, within the diversity framework which we have set.” But the casting has already sparked a strong reaction on social media, while The Daily Beast writer Stereo Williamsdenounced the action in an editorial.
Finnes addressed the issue surrounding his casting withEntertainment Tonight, saying, “I’m a white, middle-class guy from London…I’m as shocked as you may be. He continued, “[Jackson] definitely had an issue – a pigmentation issue – and that’s something I do believe. He was probably closer to my color than his original color.”
Elsewhere, Fiennes described the project toW.E.N.N.:
I got the script the other day. It’s a challenge. It’s a comedy. It doesn’t poke mean fun but it’s a story, possibly urban legend, whereby Michael, Marlon Brando, and Liz Taylor were all together the day before 9/11 doing a concert. Airspace was shut down and they couldn’t get out and Michael had the bright idea to go to hire a car and drive. So the three of them got in a car and drove 500 miles to Los Angeles. It took them a while because they had to stop at a lot of Burger Kings for Marlon; but they got out! It’s a lovely thing about Michael’s relationship with Liz Taylor and Marlon Brando. It’s a fun, light-hearted tongue in cheek road trip of what celebrity of that kind is like. But also it’s rather beautiful and poignant about their relationships as well.
Check outthis articlefrom Vanity Fair for more information on this road trip.
Neil ForsythwroteElizabeth, Michael & Marlon, which is directed byBen Palmer(The Inbetweeners Movie), and will air later this year on Sky.
